Clinker-catcher.



No. 776,591. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.. M. 0. HOWER.

GLINKER GATOHER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OEEIoE.

MILTON O. HOVVER, OF AKRON, OHIO.

CLlNKER-CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7' 76,591, datedDecember 6, 1904. Application filed February 24,1904. Serial No.195,002. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON O. Hownn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, haveinvented a certain new and useful .lmprovement in Clinker-Catchers, ofwhich the following is a complete specification.

My invention relates to devices for removing from furnaces, fire-pots,&e,, clinkers, slate, and analogous non consumable substances and forplacing therein and removing therefrom such objects as require to beheated, such as crucibles containing matter to be melted, articles to beannealed, &c.

In the ordinary use of furnaces it frequently happens that by reason ofthe presence of certain substances in the fuel used large clinkersaccumulate in the fire-pot and generally on the grate, the presence ofwhich tend to dampen and impede the free combustion of the fuel and theremoval of which is attended with highly-satisfactory results both forthe purpose of affording a better draft to the fire and allowing morespace for the superimposition of freely-combustible fuel therein.Heretofore devices have been manufactured for the removal of theseclinker-s which embody large tongs made in the form of pliers forseizing these clinkers; but these tend to crush the clinker and break itup into small particles, preventing its withdrawal whole from thefurnace. Another species of devices for removing these clinkers consistsof a long sleeve in which is a rotatable shaft, the sleeve bearingfingers and the shaft bearing generally a single finger, and. therotation of the shaft within the sleeve serves to bring the fingerstogether about an object. This is attended with the disadvantage that ifany force is exerted in prying up the clinker the shaft and sleeve arebent and are theneeforth rendered inoperative.

The objects of my invention are to produce an article for the successfuland easy removal of clinkers from a fire-pot, furnace,or similarcombustion device which will grasp the clinker with suflicient firmnessto hold it against unintentional dropping,will be easily operated, andwill not be rendered useless by being bent.

Another object is to provide a device of great simplicity inconstruction and operation whereby the interior of a heated chamber ofany description may be readily reached for the insertion therein ofarticles to be heated such as melting-pots, crucibles, &c., containingsubstances to be melted and articles requiring heat for annealingpurposes and this device is especially adapted for use where access inthe ordinary manner is difficult and where the use of the commonappliances is disadvantageous.

To the accormalishment of the aforesaid objects my invention consists inthe peculiar and novel construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanyingdraw ings, forming a part hereof.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numeralsindicate like parts in the different views, Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of my improved device; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the front orworking end thereof; and Fig. 3, an end elevation of the same, showingthe device in operation.

In the drawings, 1 is a long metallic rod provided at one end with ahand-grip 2 of any desired construction and at the opposite end isturned abruptly to one side at right angles with the main portionthereof and terminates in a curved tapering hook 3. Back from the anglethus formed on the rod is inserted a pin 4, which may be held in placeby any desired or preferred means which the requirements of the casedemand. This rod 1, with its handgrip 2 and right-angled hook 3,constitutes one member of the device, and the other member will now-bedescribed in detail.

Freely revoluble on the rod 1 and hung between the pin 4 and the hook 3are a pair of hooks 5, which consist of tapering points curved towardthe hook 3 and then are formed with portions at substantially rightangles to the rod 1 and then are bent abruptly approximately parallelwith the rod 1. The central portion connecting these two hooks 5 iswrapped a desired number of turns about the rod 1 between the pin 4 andthe hook 3. This coil surrounding the rod 1 is made large enough to makethese hooks 5 readily revoluble thereon.

In using this device it is inserted into the furnace and the hook 3elevated so as to bring the pin t against the shoulder or part of thehooks 5 which lies parallel with the rod 1, and thereby force them todig down into the incandescent mass and force their hooked ends under aclinker. As soon as this has been done the hook 3 is swung around bymeans of the hand-grip 2 so as to inclose the object between the hooks 5and 3, after which the object is readily lifted from its place andconveyed out of the furnace to any desired 01' preferred place.

In using this device to insert an object into a furnace the object isgrasped in precisely the same manner as just described with reference toa clinker and is deposited in and removed from the heated chamber withequal ease, and an extended description is thought unnecessary.

In adapting this device for grasping such articles as crucibles it isapparent that the general contour and shape of the hooks may requirealteration to meet the requirements of each particular case; but thismay readily be done and still be entirely within the scope of myinvention.

It is obvious from this description that any bend which may be made tosuit a particular object in the rod 1 will in no wise interfere with theperfect operation of thehooks 5 and 3.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination in a device of the class designated, of rod having ahandle at one end and with its opposite end bent into a curved hook atapproximately right angles with the handle-rod and provided with a fixedabutment adjacent to the hooked end constituting one member of thedevice and a pair of hooks arranged to cooperate with said first hookand pivotally attached to said handle-rod by being Wrapped one or moretimes thereabout between its hooked end and said abutment constitutingthe other member of the device.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

G. E. HUMPHREY, THOMAS L. GHILDs.

